I had a rich interior life as a child. What that really means is I was alone a lot, kept to myself, and was a keen observer of life happening around me. I spent hours reading Nancy Drew mysteries and riding my bike through back alleyways on my way to either the library or church, my two favorite haunts.
In the library I would curl up in a corner, my nose in a book, completely lost in a story – a welcome relief from my own – comforted by an over-sized pillow and librarian’s smile. Loving the candles and incense at church and lucky enough to grow up in a time when church doors were always open, I would sit in the stillness – light streaming through the reds, purples, gold, blues and greens of the stained glass windows, feeling the colors wrap around me and through me. Through these rich childhood experiences of connection with the outer world I was led to an unshakable knowing that there is no separation between our emotions and our physical surroundings.
My bike basket filled with books, the feeling of connection followed me home, where I spent hours covering shoe boxes with aluminum foil to become altars adorned with bluebells and candles…surrounding myself with icons of Jesus and Mary, holy cards and rosaries. All supported my longing to hold the feeling of calm, peace and gentle love I felt when I was in church; the connectedness I felt in myself – the knowing deep within that I was part of something more – intuiting that those walls held a powerful connection to my feelings inside. My total absorption in carefully arranging and decorating my bedroom strengthened my sense of self and deepened my faith. I created a space that held me through the days and nights – a visible reminder of the invisible safety net of God’s love and presence in the midst of Uncle Wiggly, Bullwinkle, PF Flyers and the occasional half eaten PB&J.
My work is all about space: holding space, creating space, clearing space. That space can be within the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical bodies, or our physical surroundings. Our happiness, health and prosperity all stem from the relationship of the inner and outer aspects of ourselves with our surroundings. Our homes offer shelter from the world that lies beyond our front doors. Creating rooms that reflect who we are, what we love and that support our way of being in the world offers beauty, rest and ease for our minds, bodies and spirits. Be it ever so humble…
